Debates of Oct. 28th, 1997

Finance

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, during the very extensive negotiations and consultations with the provinces and with the public, which lasted over two and a half years, the province of Alberta played a very constructive role.

It is one of the major factors along with the other provinces as a result of which we were able to save the Canada pension plan. The real issue is whether the Reform Party is recommending that it would renege on the $600 billion liability owed to existing Canadians and those who are currently retired.

Prison System

[Hélène Alarie, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the solicitor general.

For some time now, a penitentiary warden has had a prison clientele that belongs to the same criminal organization as the clientele of the tavern he runs in the evenings. All this is public knowledge, while the solicitor general, whose responsibility it is to maintain the security and integrity of the prison system, has never been informed of this incredible fact.

Does the solicitor general realize that, because of his inability to stay on top of what is going on in the department, he is creating enormous doubt in the minds of the public and adding considerably to the concern—

[The Speaker]

The solicitor general.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, there are 49 federal penitentiaries in Canada. There are 14,000 people in those penitentiaries. It is a very difficult place in which to work.

It is hard for the employees. It is hard in terms of the safety of those employees and it does not do any good to repeat allegations.

We will look into it. It is very serious and if those allegations bear out action will taken.

[Hélène Alarie, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the minister was not informed about a situation as unacceptable as that involving the warden of the Leclerc penitentiary, what useful guarantee can he give us that there are not other similar cases in his department?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is very important that due process take its course. We need to look into this. As we do, if allegations that are made are borne out action will be taken.

Immigration

[John Reynolds, Reform, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Last Thursday the minister justified increasing current immigration levels contending that the Canadian economy was growing, inflation was down, interest rates were low and hundreds of thousands of new jobs had been created.

The same day the prime minister asked the United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce “to take our jobless youth off our hands and hire them as interns”.

Who is right on Canada's ability to absorb more immigrants, the minister or the prime minister?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud that we can welcome even more immigrants into this country, because they are contributing to the development of our economic and social life.

It is very clear from the figures we have that we can increase the number of new arrivals into Canada next year and we are very pleased about this.

[John Reynolds, Reform, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I think the prime minister was right. There is 16% youth unemployment in the country right now.

Will the minister admit that she is wrong and revise the immigration levels?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, there is no study or analysis showing a direct connection between the rate of unemployment and immigration to this country. None whatsoever. And if the Reform Party has a study showing otherwise, then let us see it.

That having been said, we have consulted a number of people in this country about the new immigration levels and I am proud to report to the House that the Province of British Columbia supports the immigration level in this country.

Constitutional Amendment

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

We still do not know if the Liberal members will have to toe the party line in the vote on the proposed constitutional amendment regarding the educational system approved unanimously by the National Assembly.

By failing to give a clear direction immediately, is the Prime Minister not helping to create uncertainty about the outcome of this debate and would it not be better if he indicated a specific direction to his troops right away?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as we announced, the government brought the resolution before the House very quickly. The government supports it and we have made this clear. I therefore wonder why the hon. member did not understand earlier.

We held a free vote on the Newfoundland question. I intend to allow members to vote as they wish, as I did last time, and I hope that the other parties will do the same.

Human Rights

[Beth Phinney, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has a strong reputation for defending human rights internationally and was responsible for having rape in situations of conflict recognized as a war crime.

Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell the House what initiatives the government has taken recently to deal more effectively with terrorists and some crimes against humanity?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada chairs a group of states which is moving toward a conference in 1998 to set up an international court. To achieve that purpose the prime minister is now leading a diplomatic initiative to get support for the initiative.

In a communique out of Edinburgh the Commonwealth states that it was the first time it was able to get a full consensus of all the Commonwealth nations to support the idea of an international criminal court. This enables us to take a major step forward in achieving this very important development concerning human rights.

Correctional Service Canada

[Garry Breitkreuz, Reform, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday when we asked the solicitor general about the outrageous plan to repay drug and gambling debts by prisoners he said he did not agree with it. We are glad to know where he stands.

He has had a day to make inquiries. Now the question is what is he going to do about it.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, in the House yesterday the suggestion was made that Correctional Service Canada was repaying drug loans of inmates. It is absolutely not accurate and I would like to read a statement: “The leadership of the Union of the Solicitor General Employees and the Correctional Service Canada are addressing and will continue to address any and all safety issue concerning federal correctional facilities. Both parties feel it is counterproductive to have outside critics attack the professionalism of the service, its staff, by intentionally raising fears and making inflammatory statements”.

[Garry Breitkreuz, Reform, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians want to know when the solicitor general will take charge of those prisons.

We have raised the concerns of guards, victims of crime, the wardens, and we have not received answers. Again my question is what is he going to do about it and when is he going to do it.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I believe Canadians are more interested in when the party that pretends to protect the employees does not listen to what they tell it to do. Stop inflaming the situation with these wrong accusations when you claim to be doing it in the interest of the employees.

Operation Respond

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport and it concerns funding for Operation Respond, a program used by firefighters to respond quickly to accidents involving hazardous materials.

Professional firefighters are in Ottawa this week urging the government to provide additional funding to establish new test sites and a credible evaluation system.

Will the minister respond positively? Will he provide the additional funds needed for Operation Respond, funds which could very well mean the difference between life and death in emergency situations?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, after many years of lobbying it was this government in 1997 that decided to fund Operation Respond. I think that is very commendable. We share the hon. member's concerns.

A period of evaluation is going on right now. Once that is concluded I will be able to address more fully the issue at hand.

Human Resources Development

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today is the first anniversary of The Will to Act , the Andy Scott Federal Task Force Report on Persons with Disabilities.

This task force was set up to—

[The Speaker]

I would ask the hon. member to go directly to her question, please.

[Wendy Lill, NDP, Dartmouth, NS]

My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Will the government act on the recommendations of its own task force and appoint a minister responsible for persons with disabilities and introduce a Canadians with disabilities act?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I would like thank the hon. member for her very good question. I am glad she is reminding us that this is a task force of this government which has been promoting helping persons with disabilities.

As a government we have been moving on all fronts. As a matter of fact, the last budget announced an Opportunities Fund of $30 million per year for three years to support persons with disabilities. We have approved $70 million per year in tax measures to recognize the extra cost of persons with disabilities—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Brandon—Souris.